Colorado Dphe Monitors Assisted Living Facilities

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment had formulated regulations for assisted living facilities in the state of Colorado and inspects the facilities regularly to ensure quality. Three categories of assisted living facilities operate in Colorado. First type are residential assisted living and treatment facilities for people suffering from chronic dementia disorders like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, memory loss, and other similar dementia related ailments. These facilities are mental health treatment facilities and they are licensed by the Department. Local mental health centers operate these assisted living facilities Colorado.

The second type is alternative care facilities certified by Medicaid and licensed. The Department conducts regulatory inspections on behalf of the State Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) on these facilities to ensure Medicaid certification. The third type is private pay licensed assisted living facilities. Assisted living facilities Colorado have individual beds for residents, which vary from three to more than 200. These facilities provide exclusive room or shared room, board, personal services like medication management, assistance for bathing, dressing, laundry, and eating, transportation, recreational activities, social care, protective oversight, and regular supervision. All these services are available on 24-hour basis, with trained staff interacting with the residents and assisting them.

Colorado DPHE Ensures Quality Health Care in Assisted Living Facilities Colorado

The Department ensures that all assisted living facilities Colorado meet high standards for the health and safety of the residents, including protection of the rights of the residents, protection from abuse, quality of care, and quality of lives of residents. The Department achieves this through spontaneous complaint inspections and unannounced annual surveys. The health, well-being, and safety of the residents get top priority at the Department. Hence, the Department considers levels of potential or actual harm to residents because of deficiencies in service and living conditions. The Department treats violations seriously by imposing fines on erring assisted living facilities Colorado and demanding immediate correction of deficiencies.

Services Offered in Assisted Living Facilities Colorado

According to the Department, assisted living facilities Colorado should consider bathing, dental hygiene, shaving, caring for hair, getting in and out of bed, dressing, and eating as daily living activities of residents and should provide assistance on these activities to the extent required. Further, all assisted living facilities Colorado should make available meals, cleaning of bedrooms, bathrooms, and all common areas, laundry, and assistance for making telephone calls, shopping, and writing letters. The facilities should also provide adequate leisure and recreational activities to the residents to improve their mental faculties and keep them contented in all aspects.

Qualities of Administrators of Assisted Living Facilities Colorado

The Department had stipulated that the administrators should have undergone a certification program approved by the Department. The administrators should have specialized in curriculum that includes assessment skills, environment and fire safety, including first-aid and emergency procedures, resident rights, identification and handling of difficult behaviors and situations, and nutrition. They should also develop skills in attending to the personal, emotional, and social care needs of the residents.